Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-12-16
FARM TOPICS.
STONE EoR BANKING BARNS.

stones. covering the whole with dirt
This makes dry roadway. but the OBJ
jettion is that these covered stone
heaps become the harbor for rats. and it
is almost imposs BILE to destroy or drive
them away
REMOVING STONES FROM MEADOWS.
Few farmers have any leisure at this
season. The teams especially are usu-
ally kept busy. But boys may he
employed to gather loose stones in
next season. After the heaps are made
they protect the soil beneath from
freezing. and may be drawn away after
the severest cold of Winter. when teams
would otherwise have nothing to do
PUTTING UP FARMING IMPLEMENTS.
The best rule is TO keep farm tools
housed when not in use. III, however,
they have been left out until now, no
time should be lost in getting them
IN. The wastage from exposure Of
costly implements is enormous every
year. and 1t is responsible for consider
able Of the hard times that some farm
ers complain Of. No matter how soon
tools are risted out, the farmer cannot
escape paying for them.
WARN QUARTERS FOR PIGS
Because pigs huddle together at
night, and thus keep themselves warm.
many think that shelter Is less impor-
tant for them than for other stock.
Their feeding place. especially, should
always be covered and protected from
winds. The pig has little hair on its
body, and is more sensitive to cold
than any other farm stock. After be-
ing huddled up under cover all night
their exposure in feeding is all the
more likely To be injurious.
LADDERS FOR ORCHARD USE.
Whatever fruit is grown, good sup
ply of ladders of various devices aud
sizes is an essential auxiliary in gather
ing the fruit. 1t is not enough to get
easily into the tree. la an ordinary
well-trained apple orchard two or
three step-ladders of various heights
will enable the orchardst to gather his
crop with little wastage, and with
comparative ease TO himself The ma
terials for a step-ladder cost little. and
almost any farmer can easily learn TO
make one.
CALVES RUNNING WITH COWS.
At this season, cows that calved in
Spring give only small amount of
milk, especially if due to drop calf
next Spring. There is little pressure
on the cows bag. and she will not on
ly show no anxiety to have the calf re-
lieve it, but will generally drive it
away il it attempts TO suck. Turn
the two together after the cows bag
has been MIXED out in the morning,
and for the first few days separate
after the two have been together an
hour or two In week the calf il it
has never been with the COW all sum-
mer, will forget all about sucking, and
never afterwards attempt it.
MATING EWES FOR BREEDING.
Now is the time 10 turn the ram with
a flock of ewes to have them drop
their lambs in April or early in May.
II the ewes are all in good flesh, they
will mate pretty evenly. When a eve
has mated with the buck. she should
be placed in separate enclosure
Those so poor that they refuse to
breed are probably not worth winter
ing. The late lamb which they might
be induced to breed will not be worth
much. and the eve year from now
will probably depreciate in value. The
rapidity with which sheep run down
after passing their prime is the great
est drawback in the sheep breeding in
dustry.
CROPS IN ENGLAND.
The oat and potato crops in England
and Ireland are turning out much poor
er than was expected. This means an
Increased demand for American wheat.
Our own oat and potato crops are be-
low the average, so that however high
the price may 60 in Europe they are
not likely to be largely exported. In
this country the scarcity OF any favor
tie article of food. as potatoes, has less
a effect than in Europe, IN diyerting con-
sumption to something else. Our peo-
pie generally eat what they like best,
regardless of price, a pretty sure sign
that workingmen here are better paid
than anywhere else in the world.
LEAVING PARsNIPs TO FREEZE.
1t is a mistake TO harvest parsnips
too early. This is a crop which light
freezing decidedly improves in quality,
taking off rank tas.e which roots
grown on rich ground often have.
Parsnips are often left in the ground
all Winter without being injured; but
they must be got out very early in the
Spring, as after new growth begins the
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